Have you ever walked past a dog and its owner and think, “Wow… they totally look alike”?
Like, same haircut. Same vibe. Maybe even the same resting face? (No offense to the bulldogs out there.)
Well, turns out there’s science behind that split-second moment of Did I just see a Labradoodle with a man-bun?!
From floppy ears that match a flowy hairstyle, to a bulldog and his equally grumpy human counterpart, research has confirmed: we’re drawn to pets that remind us of… ourselves!
Why We Gravitate Toward Our Animal Twins
Experts call it the mere-exposure effect—we like what we know. And since most of us have spent a lifetime staring at our own faces (hey, you look great, by the way), we tend to gravitate toward pets that feel familiar. Whether it’s a dog with a smirk that mirrors your own or a cat with your signature “don’t talk to me before coffee” glare, there’s a comforting connection there.
It’s Not Just the Hair—It’s the Vibe
According to psychologists, when we choose a pet, we often go with our gut.
It’s not a calculated checklist—we just get “that feeling.”
And a big part of that gut instinct? It’s that cozy sense of “Oh hey, you seem like me.”
One study even showed people could correctly match strangers with their purebred pups just by photos. Another found folks were more likely to pick dogs that mimicked their hairstyles. And it doesn’t stop with pets!
People have also been matched to their cars based on facial resemblance. (Imagine a guy with bushy eyebrows rolling up in a Jeep with headlight “eyes”—you see it now, don’t you?)
So what does this say about us?
Maybe that we’re just looking for a buddy who “gets” us. One who shares our energy, our quirks, our love of naps on the couch. The resemblance might be physical, emotional, or even just in the attitude.
Let’s put this to the test!
Do you look like your pet?
Do you both rock curly hair?
Matching underbites?
Resting cute face?
📸We want to see it!
Send us a side-by-side pic of you and your furry (or feathered… or scaled?) bestie and let’s find out if the resemblance is real or ruff-ly coincidental.
***I tried taking photos with the cats but they all ran away. The bird and turtle were also not having any of my nonsense.***
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